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Newsweek
6 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
These Diseases Are on the Rise as Vaccine Rates Decrease
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. vaccination rate is on a steady multiyear decline, with the Centers of Disease Prevention and Control reporting that coverage for all children entering kindergarten in the 2024-25 school year declined for all reported vaccines. The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine has dropped to 92.5 percent, down from 92.7 percent last year. The overall vaccine exemption rate also climbed to 3.6 percent. Experts are now warning that the declines in vaccine coverage in the United States has led to notable increases in several diseases, including measles, whooping cough and hand, foot and mouth disease. Why It Matters Health authorities, researchers, and global health leaders have warned that continued decreases in childhood vaccinations could reverse decades of progress in controlling these illnesses, resulting in higher rates of infection, hospitalizations, and preventable deaths. According to the CDC, small declines in coverage have already contributed to localized outbreaks, while modeling studies predict far greater spread if the trend continues. One year-old River Jacobs is held by his mother, Caitlin Fuller, while he receives an MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio, at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025,... One year-old River Jacobs is held by his mother, Caitlin Fuller, while he receives an MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio, at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. MoreWhat To Know The falling immunization rates are already making an impact on U.S. public health, doctors say. In Philadelphia, an uptick in hand, foot, and mouth disease cases closed a local pool and sent numerous children to urgent care. "Each of our centers across the Philadelphia and surrounding county area are seeing multiple cases," Dr. Bob Czincila, medical director of Vybe urgent care, told CBS News, noting that transmission is especially prevalent in day care settings and summer camps. Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral infection that can be painful, often making it difficult for young children to eat and drink and increasing the risk of dehydration. There is no specific treatment other than symptom relief. South Carolina's Department of Public Health also recently reported a 124 percent increase in whooping cough cases over the past year, with 551 cases confirmed, many among children in child care centers and schools. Health officials advised antibiotics as the primary treatment and emphasized that vaccination remains the best means of prevention. Meanwhile, measles, long declared eliminated in the United States, has seen a resurgence is cases. Texas experienced over 750 cases since January, resulting in at least two deaths. These outbreaks have primarily originated in communities with low vaccination rates. JAMA modeling studies and CDC data show regional drops in childhood immunizations; for example, kindergarten coverage for measles, polio, whooping cough, and chickenpox fell from 95 percent before the pandemic to below 93 percent afterward, with some states experiencing much larger declines. Epidemiologists warn that drops in vaccination not only increase individual infection risk, but also threaten herd immunity, leaving newborns, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly particularly vulnerable. "It is not so common in patients over the age of 20, but there are increasing outbreaks. I attribute this to declining vaccination coverage due to misinformation, increased global travel and less healthy lifestyles overall including poor diet," board-certified internist Dr. Amanda Kahn told Newsweek. CDC experts note that disparities in vaccination persist, with lower coverage reported among children from racial and ethnic minorities, economically disadvantaged households, and rural areas. What People Are Saying Board-certified internist Dr. Amanda Kahn told Newsweek: "I am now checking all adult patients for measles immunity given that measles cases are on the rise. Measles is something we typically see in unvaccinated children or infants who are too young to be vaccinated, however I do see waning immunity in adults who were previously vaccinated, and now recommend a booster." Dr. Bob Czincila, medical director of Vybe urgent care, told CBS Philadelphia, regarding the spread of hand, foot, and mouth disease: "Kids are coming in with rashes that are on their fingers, on their hands, they can be on their toes and feet, and then you have oral ulcerations. It makes it difficult for children, especially younger ones, to eat because of how painful and how much they burn... It's primarily in children, but certainly, we have adults that have younger children that may contract it from them, that come in as well too." Mathew Kiang, ScD, assistant professor of epidemiology and population health at Stanford Medicine, said in an earlier report: "If vaccination were to fall by even 10 percent today, measles cases would skyrocket to 11.1 million over the next 25 years. If vaccination rates were cut in half, we'd expect 51.2 million cases of measles, 9.9 million cases of rubella, 4.3 million cases of polio and 200 cases of diphtheria over 25 years." What Happens Next Public health experts have emphasized that maintaining or increasing vaccination rates is critical for preventing further disease resurgence. Modeling studies indicate that even a small increase, around 5 percent, in vaccine coverage could dramatically reduce future outbreaks and bring disease levels back toward elimination thresholds. Meanwhile, continued decline could permanently reestablish diseases such as measles, rubella, and polio in the U.S. The CDC and health providers recommend that parents consult with pediatricians to ensure all children are up-to-date on vaccinations.
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Measles Map Update as New State Confirms Outbreak
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Tennessee health officials confirmed a measles outbreak on Thursday, pushing the number of U.S. states with active outbreaks to 10. Nationwide, cases have surged past 800 — more than double the total reported in all of 2024. The largest outbreak remains in Texas, with 624 cases across 26 counties, primarily in the western region. Health officials reported two additional hospitalizations this week, bringing the total to 64, while Bailey County logged its first two cases. Most of the Texas cases—62 percent—are concentrated in Gaines County, home to a close-knit Mennonite community with low vaccination rates. Two children in Texas have died from measles-related complications since late February. Neighboring New Mexico now has 65 confirmed cases, including six hospitalizations. Most cases are in Lea County, with isolated infections in Eddy, Chaves, and Doña Ana counties. A New Mexico adult died in March due to measles complications. State officials say genetic testing confirms the outbreak is linked to the one in Texas. Kansas has reported 37 measles cases spread across eight counties in the southwest. The highest case counts are in Haskell (8) and Stevens (7) counties. The state's first case was detected on March 13 in Stevens County, also genetically linked to the Texas outbreak. In Oklahoma, the case total has reached 13 — 10 confirmed and three probable. The initial cases were traced back to outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. Public exposures occurred in Custer, Oklahoma, and Cleveland counties, though state officials have not identified where current cases are located. Ohio reported 32 confirmed cases on Thursday, with the majority in Ashtabula (16) and Knox (14) counties. There are also isolated cases in Allen and Holmes counties. Knox County health officials report 20 total measles cases, including seven non-residents. Indiana has eight cases in Allen County, in the northeastern part of the state. Five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults with unknown vaccination status. Health officials say the cases are not linked to other outbreaks. In Pennsylvania, officials declared an outbreak in Erie County after identifying two new cases tied to a prior case confirmed on March 30. The state has seen nine total cases this year, though not all are connected, including travel-related cases in Montgomery County and Philadelphia. One year-old River Jacobs is held by his mother, Caitlin Fuller, while he receives an MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio, at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025,... One year-old River Jacobs is held by his mother, Caitlin Fuller, while he receives an MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio, at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025, in Lubbock, has eight cases total, four of which are clustered in Montcalm County near Grand Rapids. Officials believe these are linked to Ontario's large outbreak in Canada. The remaining cases are not part of that cluster. Montana reported its first measles cases in 35 years, with five unvaccinated children and adults isolating at home in Gallatin County. These individuals had traveled out of state, though no link to other North American outbreaks has been confirmed. Tennessee has reported six measles cases, all in the central part of the state. At least three are connected, though health officials have not provided further details or confirmed ties to other outbreaks. Health experts warn that measles — a highly contagious, airborne virus — could continue to spread in undervaccinated communities. Though declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, recent trends in declining childhood immunization and rising exemption claims have contributed to its resurgence. This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available. Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
South China Morning Post
06-04-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
500 cases in West Texas measles outbreak as second child dies
A second school-aged child in West Texas has died from a measles-related illness, a hospital spokesman confirmed on Sunday, as the outbreak continues to swell. Advertisement Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, said that the child was 'receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalised' and was not vaccinated. The hospital declined to say which day the child died. Neither the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention nor the Texas State Department of State Health Services include the death in their measles reports issued on Friday. Spokespeople for the state health department and US Health and Human Services Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday. An unvaccinated school-age child died of measles in February in Lubbock – the first measles death in the US in a decade. In early March, an adult in New Mexico who was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care became the second measles-related death. More than two months in, the West Texas outbreak is believed to have spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas, sickening nearly 570 people. The World Health Organization also reported cases related to Texas in Mexico. One-year-old River Jacobs is held by his mother, Caitlin Fuller, while he receives an MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio, at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, in Lubbock, Texas. Photo: TNS The number of cases in Texas shot up by 81 between March 28 and April 4, and 16 more people were hospitalised. A team from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is on the ground in Texas assisting with outbreak response.
